Where has this been all my life? The Sound of Siam, Volume 2- Molam & Luk Thung Isan from North-East Thailand 1970-1982 represents yet another heretofore undiscovered rabbit hole.
The 19 tracks newly compiled by the Soundwaves label are somehow simultaneously foreign and familiar. Onuma Singsiri's "Lam Plearn Toe Lhong Tong" sounds like a collision of a psychedelic garage rock band and a traditional Celtic ensemble. The hypnotic "Mainaa Tam Pom Loey" by Panom Promma references "I Put a Spell On You" and "Summertime." The deranged instrumentation on Yenjit Porntawi's "Lam Plearn Gok Kaa Kao" may or may not include a gamelan and oddly-tuned woodwinds.
One thing leads to another, of course, so I've taken to prowling YouTube channels like this. There seems to be an endless supply of entrancing Thai music that blends folk music with Western styles. I don't know whether to be elated or despondent that my list of obsessions just became a little longer.
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A free concert by Peter Noone's version of Herman's Hermits amused me last night. The best bits were Noone's baiting the audience of 3,500 with redneck jokes and a Sex Pistols reference at the opening of "I'm Henry the VIII". Noone looked and sounded great.
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Cashgang's "1Hunnid" is a fine reproduction of Future. (Via Tony's Kansas City.)
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Bears and Company made a video for "Occurrence in the Wildwood".
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The Lucky created a video for "Red Light/Red Lover".
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Lily Allen sounds like Lorde's jaded big sister on Sheezus. I'm not sure why, but Sheezus reminds of spotty Elton John albums like Rock of the Westies. Here's the audacious title track. RIYL: comedy, 2014, irony.
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The handwringing over a possible Led Zeppelin semi-reunion is silly when contemporary bands like Cormorant are building on the band's legacy in obscurity. Here's "Sold As a Crow". RIYL: Opeth, metal, Jimmy Page.
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Aborted's Necrotic Manifesto sounds just like you'd think.
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A Long Way to the Beginning, the new Robert Glasper-produced album by Sean Kuti & Egypt 80, is disappointing. Here's a video for the opening track. RIYL: Fela, Occupy Wall Street, Hearts of Darkness.
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Chuck Inglish's Convertibles is a first-rate hip-hop party album. RIYL: The Cool Kids, molly, Mac Miller.
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Arty folk-rock like Sharon Van Etten's Are We There is like kryptonite to me in 2014. I'm sure the album is every bit as good as its advocates claim, but it's just not where I'm at. RIYL: Patti Smith, depression, the National.
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So angry! OFWGKTA affiliate Trash Talk showcases its hardcore punk on No Peace. RIYL: Anti-Flag, moshing, Off!
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Based on the trailer, We Are the Best! looks excellent.
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Mykki Blanco's "She Gutta" is worthwhile beyond its considerable shock value.
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
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